How to dress for a summer wedding

A grey suit is a summer wedding winner.

How to Dress Fashionably and Appropriately at the Same Time

What is the dress code for a summer wedding?

Summer weddings are a more relaxed affair than their winter counterparts. You have more leeway to express your style and experiment with color. This is the general rule, but you will want to double-check with the hosts. The couple may decide to completely break convention and require you to wear a full tux at their beach wedding; this is their prerogative. When the dress code is not specified on the invite, ask the host the dress code when you RSVP.

It is common to encounter ?casual cocktail dress? or ?daytime semiformal? as the dress code for a summer wedding which is held around midday. For daytime semiformal, you can choose whether you want to wear a two-piece suit, or mismatch your formal pants with a sports coat.

What time is the wedding?

The time of day makes a huge difference to what you can appropriately wear to the wedding. Night-time weddings are more formal and require dark colors, while lighter shades are fine to wear for weddings held during the day. You will also need to choose an appropriate material for your outfit. A light and breathable cotton or linen suit is best during the day, especially if the wedding is outside. Wool suits and heavily lined suits will have you sweating like a pig before the ceremony even starts.

The trusty grey suit

For a summer wedding where the dress code is less than formal, a grey suit is a stylish but traditional choice. A black or navy suit can come across as too pompous for a summer wedding. Lighter shades are more playful; pair it with an eye-catching tie for an instant talking point. Note that you will want to know the colors of the wedding party before selecting a tie; you do not want to be confused for one of the groomsmen because you happen to be wearing the same color tie. For a grey suit, pastel toned ties in fun colors like mint or pink are a good match. You can also select a shirt with a bit of color or pattern to it.

If grey is not your style, tan is also a suitable color for your suit. For more adventurous colors, you may want to check with the hosts. Do not wear anything too bright, you want to stick to either very pale or very dark shades. Wearing a bright blue suit to a wedding comes across as attention-seeking and rude. Avoid wearing a white suit; even men can be at risk of upstaging the bride.

Do not wear jeans

Even if the dress code is given as ?casual?, it is rude to dress too sloppily. Never wear jeans to a wedding. For the most informal of weddings, you still need to be in dressy trousers and a shirt. Skip the tie for weddings with a relaxed dress code (you do not want to be more dressed up than those in the wedding party).